Combination cleaning swab and septic tank activator



ug- ZZ, 196 D. F. RODGERS ETAL 2,996,744

COMBINATION CLEANING SWAB AND SEPTIC TANK ACTIVATOR Filed April 21, 1958 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. DOROTHY F. R ODGERS LEOPOLD GODOWSKY BY Em,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,996,744 COMBINATION CLEANING SWAB AND SEPTIC TANK A'CCTIVATOR Dorothy F. Rodgers, 70 E. 71st St., New York, N.Y., and Leopold Godowsky, Westport, Conn. Dorothy F. Rodgers, 70 E. 71st St., New York, N.Y.)

Filed Apr. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 729,966 '1 Claim.- (Cl. 15-410) The present invention relates to disposable cleaning swabs of the type commonly used for cleaning toilet bowls, bath tubs and the like, and more particularly to a novel cleaning swab and bacterial activator for use in connection with plumbing systems incorporating septic tanks.

In plumbing systems using septic tanks, waste is discharged into a tank, usually buried underground, and the waste in the tank is subjected to bacterial action, which converts the waste into free flowing liquid form, which may be dispersed in the ground area surrounding the tank. Ideally, the bacterial activity in the tank is regenerating, so that once the action is begun it continues for a long period of time, such as one or two years, before cleaning of the tank is required. However, certain materials may be discharged into the tank, which are of an anti-septic nature and tend to inhibit the conversion process in the tank. One such anti-septic material is common household detergent, which is used extensively in dishwashing, for example, and for many other household cleaning chores. The introduction of such amounts of detergent into the septic system tends to inhibit or stop the conversion process in the septic tank and, if appropriate steps are not taken to maintain the bacterial activity in the tank, it is necessary to remove the material from the tank with excessive frequency, which involves substantial expense. Accordingly, it is conventional practice to regenerate septic tanks periodically, as by the introduction therein of appropriate bacteriologicalor biochemical compositions.

While the practices now commonly in use for regenerating septic tanks are satisfactory if faithfully carried out, it is recognized that, in actual practice, it is difiicult to maintain a proper schedule for the introduction of re generating substances, particularly in the average household system, which may require regeneration as infrequently as once a month, for example. Accordingly,,the present invention provides a novel combination cleaning swab which carries within it a small quantity of activating agent. The cleaning swab is of a disposable type, suitable for frequent use in the cleaning of bath tubs, toilet bowls and the like. And, after it has been used in a cleaning operation, it may be flushed through the plumbing systern and discharged into the septic tank. The activating agent carried by the swab is thus introduced into the septic tank to maintain the desired bacterial activity therein. Since the cleaning swabs are typically used with relative frequency, sufficient amounts of activating agent are introduced into the septic tank to assure proper operation of the tank at all times and to substantially eliminate the need for introducing the agent in any other form. Moreover, since it is usually desirable or expedient to incorporate a suitable detergent in the swab to improve its cleaning efiectiveness, the addition of activating agent in each detergent-impregnated swab wholly avoids any undesirable effects which might otherwise result from frequent use of the swabs.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning swab of the 7 type contemplated by the invention as used with a typical cleaning mop, for example; and

FIG. 2 is a simplified representation of a typical plumbing system utilizing a septic tank.

In a conventional plumbing system utilizing a septic tank, a toilet bowl 10 has its outlet connected to a discharge line 11 leading to a septic tank 12. The tank 12, which may be of any suitable form, is usually buried below the ground level 13 and has outlet means 14 discharging into the ground area surrounding the tank, whereby outflow from the tank is dispersed into the ground.

Ideally, waste discharged into the tank 12 remains in the tank for a period of time, in which the waste is converted to liquid form, after which it is discharged through the outlet 14. The conversion of matter in the tank, once initiated, Will generally continue for a long period of time, unless foreign substances are introduced into the tank which inhibit or destroy the active bacterial elements by which the conversion is effected. Typically, however, undesirable foreign substances, such as detergents, are frequently introduced into the septic tank, making it necessary to re-activate the tank periodically, as by the introduction of a suitable re-activating compound.

In accordance with the invention, a disposable cleaning pad or swab 15 is provided, the material of which is impregnated with or otherwise carries an appropriate quantity of activating agent. The swab 15 may, in its physical construction, be of conventional form, advantageously being comprised of cellulosic material adapted to dissociate or disintegrate upon prolonged contact with water. A typical cleaning swab of this type is illustrated in United States Patent No. 2,648,085, issued August 11, 1953, to Dorothy F. Rodgers. In one advantageous embodiment, the swab may be in the form of a mitt, for example, which is placed on the hand of the user, for convenient cleaning of bath tubs and sinks. In another typical embodiment, the cleaning swab is applied to the head 16 of a suitable handle 17, so that a convenient mop assembly is formed. conventionally, the mop handle 17 and swab 15 are so arranged that, upon completion of a cleaning operation, the swab may be removed from the handle and flushed into the discharge line 11 of the plumbing system.

In the cleaning swab of the invention, suflicient activating agent is provided so that, taking into account the average frequency of use of the cleaning swab and the amount of agent required to be added or introduced into the tank over a period of time, the septic system may be maintained at all times at a proper level of activity. Advantageously, the cellulosic material forming the body of the cleaning swab may be impregnated with the agent, although it is contemplated that other ways of incorporating the agent in the swab may be employed.

The activating agent incorporated in the cleaning swab may, in itself, be of a known type, and such agents are generally of two types, although various specific compounds may take a variety of specific forms. In general, there are two biochemical methods employed to liquefy septic sewage and convert it into a free flowing fluid or liquid product. In one method, a non-pathogenic bacterial inoculant is introduced into the septic waste, the strain of the inoculant being specially developed and isolated for its particular biochemical function, i.e., conversion of protein to amino acid or conversion of starch to sugars. A typical commercial product for this purpose is Septic Aide manufactured by the Circle Research Laboratories, Inc., of Glen Ridge, New Jersey. A second method utilizes either a fungal or enzymic extract to achieve biochemical conversion, and a commercial prod not used for this purpose is marketed under the name 0 Secal and apparently is an enzymic extract obtained cals Corporation, Houston, Texas, and known as Bionetic, appears to be a mixture containing a fungal organism as well as enzyrnic extracts.

The foregoing activating agents are intended to be illustrative only, as it is contemplated that any agent suitable for the purpose may be utilized.

The new swab is particularly advantageous for use in connection with plumbing systems having septic tanks and particularly where a detergent or other substance detrimental to septic tank action is incorporated in the swab to aid cleaning. Whether the swab is used as a hand pad, mop or the like, and whether it is used for cleaning tubs, toilet bowls, etc., it is convenient to dispose of the swab by flushing it into the waste system, whereupon an appropriate quantity of activating agent is introduced into the system.

With the new swab, proper maintenance of the septic tank is accomplished automatically, as part of regular housecleaning activitives, and without special attention on the part of the householder. Thus, regular use of the swabs, as part of the routine cleaning in a typical household, assures continued, proper operation of the septic tank by periodically introducing into the tank amounts of activating agent sufiicient to counteract not only any detergent in the swab, but also other de-activating substances reasonably to be expected to be discharged into the tank.

We claim:

-A cleaning swab for a toilet bowl or the like which swab comprises a body of material adapted to dissociate when introduced into a plumbing system, said body carrying a detergent and a compound carried by the body and adapted to be dispersed in a septic tank connected in the plumbing system for reactivating the waste conversion process of the tank, the amount of reactivating compound carried by said body being in excess of the amount required to balance the efiect of said detergent on the bacterial activity in the septic tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,420,180 Casmire June 20, 1922 1,662,426 Kootz Mar. 13, 1928 1,751,495 Simmer Mar. 18, 1930 2,288,714 Jones July 7, 1942 2,528,403 West Oct. 31, 1950 2,560,649 Hornaday July 17, 1951 2,690,661 Briggs Oct. 5, 1954 2,816,311 Beck et a1. Dec. 17, 1957 

